by NYC Editor, 06/25/2009

NYC & COMPANY JOINS NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE SPECIALTY FOOD TRADE AND CITY HARVEST TO KICK OFF 55th SUMMER FANCY FOOD SHOW IN NEW YORK CITY

—Specialty Food Trade Show To Generate $32.4 Million in Direct Spending to NYC’s Economy—

—36,000 Visitors from 90 Countries Expected During Three-Day Business to Business Show at Javits Center—

New York City (June 25, 2009) – NYC & Company CEO George Fertitta was joined today by Ann Daw, President of Manhattan-based National Association for the Specialty Food Trade, and Jilly Stephens, Executive Director of City Harvest, to kick-off the 55th Summer Fancy Food Show and to highlight the trade show’s economic benefit to New York City. At the announcement, NYC-based sofi™ Awards finalists Rick’s Picks of Manhattan and Sarabeth’s Kitchen of the Bronx each unveiled their latest specialty food creations and their products in the running to win this year’s coveted sofi™ Gold Awards, the Oscars of the specialty food world. The kick-off took place at NYC & Company’s Official NYC Information Center in Midtown Manhattan.

“New York City is the food capital of the world and there could be no better place to host the Fancy Food Show,” said George Fertitta, CEO of NYC & Company. “New York City is not only a leading destination for leisure travel, but also is a draw for domestic and international conventions and trade shows. Our team works closely with the organizers of events, such as Summer Fancy Food Show, to help build attendance and offer participants special incentives and discounts for dining, shows and transportation to showcase the City and all it has to offer.”

The 55th Summer Fancy Food Show, which runs from June 28 – 30 at the Javits Center, brings 36,000 visitors to the City, generating an estimated 20,000 total hotel room nights, providing $32.4 million in direct spending to New York City’s economy, according to the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade (NASFT).

“New York has been home to our show, and our trade association, for more than half a century,” said Ann Daw, president of the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade. “The city is a fabulous draw to exhibitors and buyers from across the country and around the world. No place else provides such a thriving marketplace for the creativity and innovation at the heart of the specialty food industry.”

The Summer Fancy Food Show shapes the hottest trends in specialty foods and beverages from the U.S. and around the globe. The Show will fill 316,000 square feet of the Javits Center with 2,300 exhibitors representing more than 70 countries and will feature the world’s finest cheeses, olive oil, spices, teas, chocolate and ethnic specialties. Over 600 companies will display natural and organic items, and the popular “What’s New, What’s Hot!” showcase will feature 1,000 offerings.

At today’s kick-off event, Rick Fields, owner of Rick’s Picks, unveiled his latest product – the People’s Pickle. Rick also showcased his Smokra (smoked okra) and Handy Corn (vibrant corn relish) which are both in the running for a sofi™ Gold Award. Bill & Sarabeth Levine, co-owners of Bronx-based Sarabeth’s Kitchen unveiled their Legendary Velvety Cream of Tomato Soup. Sarabeth’s also showcased their marmalade which is up for a sofi™ Gold Award. The winners of this year’s coveted sofi™ Gold Awards will be announced at the Food Show on Monday, June 29. The awards include Outstanding New Product of 2009 and Outstanding Classic. Noted chef Ming Tsai will host this red-carpet food event.

For the 20th year, the Summer Fancy Food Show has partnered with City Harvest, one of New York’s leading anti-hunger organizations, to continue the tradition of donating food and beverages from the show. This year, the show expects to donate approximately 100,000 pounds of specialty foods to the organization. The donations will fill four tractor trailers and will be distributed by more than 300 volunteers.

“The Fancy Food Show donation will allow City Harvest to deliver the kind of food that soup kitchens and food pantries are rarely able to provide to the hungry New Yorkers they serve,” said Jilly Stephens, Executive Director of City Harvest. “We are grateful for the generosity of the NASFT and show vendors as well as the hard work of volunteers dedicated to rescuing the food safely.”

The Summer Fancy Food Show is open to members of the specialty food trade and journalists covering the event, but is not open to the general public. However, the show is where buyers from food stores and supermarkets in New York and worldwide come to find the latest new items to stock on their shelves. Discoveries at the show will soon be available throughout the five boroughs. For more information, visit fancyfoodshows.com.

For the Fancy Food Show, NYC & Company’s in-house Destination Services department helped to build attendance for the show by enlisting the help of its Restaurant Committee chair Tracy Nieporent to do a voice blast during the registration period. NYC & Company also coordinated with its members to provide discounts on parking, restaurants, Broadway shows, and tours for Fancy Food attendees. In addition, the organization provided 2009 NYC Visitors Guides for all exhibitors and will manage a welcome desk for Fancy Food delegates at the Javits Center.

About NYC & Company
NYC & Company is the official marketing, tourism and partnership organization for the City of New York, dedicated to maximizing travel and tourism opportunities throughout the five boroughs, building economic prosperity and spreading the positive image of New York City worldwide. For information on visiting and experiencing New York City, visit nycgo.com or the Official NYC Information Center at 810 Seventh Avenue, between 52nd and 53rd Streets in Midtown Manhattan.

About the National Association for Specialty Food Trade, Inc.
The National Association for the Specialty Food Trade, Inc. (NASFT®), founded in 1952, is the only U.S. trade association representing the specialty food industry. Today, the NASFT has more than 2,900 members worldwide that produce, manufacture, import, distribute and sell more than 180,000 specialty food and beverage products. The NASFT conceived and launched the Fancy Food Show® in 1955. The show is widely recognized as the premiere American marketplace for the specialty food industry.

About City Harvest
Now serving New York City for more than 25 years, City Harvest (CityHarvest.org) is the world’s first food rescue organization, dedicated to feeding the city’s hungry men, women, and children. This year, City Harvest will collect 26 million pounds of excess food from all segments of the food industry, including restaurants, grocers, corporate cafeterias, manufacturers, and farms. This food is then delivered free of charge to more than 600 community food programs using a fleet of trucks and bikes as well as volunteers on foot. Each week, City Harvest helps over 260,000 hungry New Yorkers find their next meal.